Short cut keys in Command Line Interface of IOS of Cisco Router and Switch

Short cut keys in Command Line Interface of IOS of Cisco Router and Switch

Using shortcut keys helps administrator to work effectively and saves lot of time. Most popular shortcut that every network administrator uses while configuring, maintaining or troubleshooting a router is “TAB”.

Hitting TAB key completes a partially typed command in Command Line Interface. For example “enable” enables an administrator to enter into privileged EXEC mode from user EXEC mode. Instead of typing enable, admin can type “en” and hit tab for auto-complete of the command.

Shortcuts can be categorized into following

a. Cursor movement shortcuts

b. Shortcuts to edit

c. Functional shortcuts

Cursor movement shortcuts:

Cursor movement shortcuts help an administrator to move the cursor without moving his hands from the keyboard. Most commonly used shortcuts are as follows

Ctrl+a, Moves the cursor to the beginning of the command.

Ctrl+e, Moves the cursor to the end of a command.

Ctrl+f, Cursor is moved forward by one character.

Ctrl+b, Cursor is moved backward by one character.

ESC+f, Cursor moves forward by one word.

Esc+b, Cursor moves backward by one word.

Up arrow, previous command (can also use Ctrl+p)

Down arrow, next command (can also use Ctrl+n)

Shortcuts to edit:

Editing shortcuts help an administrator to delete or swap the words in command or entire command line

Ctrl+W: deletes word to the left of cursor

Ctrl+U: deletes entire line.

Ctrl+T: swaps current character with the previous character

Ctrl+K: removes all the characters present from the cursor to the end of a command.

Ctrl+X: erases all the characters from the beginning to the place where the cursor is placed.

ESC+D: delete characters from cursor to the end of a word.

Delete: Removes the character that is present to the right of the cursor.

Backspace: Erases the character that is present to the left of the cursor.

Up arrow: scrolls forward through previous commands

Down arrow: scrolls backward through previous commands.

Functional shortcuts:

Some of the functional shortcuts are as listed below

Ctrl+R: this is similar to F5, refresh the router and start a new line with the same command